WOOLWORTHS AIMS TO PLANT 17 000 TREES BY 2012 – ONE FOR EACH EMPLOYEE.

March 12, 2008

In line with the Good business journey, we are committed to supporting ‘greening projects’ as they contribute to offsetting our carbon footprint. Woolworths aims to reduce the business’ relative carbon footprint by 30% by 2012. Trees provide many benefits for the environment, one fo the key benefits is that they play an important role in producing oxygen and reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, as well as moderating ground temperatures. Woolworths has committed to planting 17 000 trees by 2012, one for each employee.
The first 800 trees, of an initial planting of 1000 trees, were sourced from a Woolworths Trust EduPlant school nursery in Thembisa, have been planted at our Midrand Distribution campus as part of an ongoing greening project. Planting began in December 2007. The trees – Rhus Lancea (Karee Tree), Wild Gardenia, Noltea Africana (Soup Dogwood Tree), Dais Cotinifolia (Pompom Tree), Combretum Erythrophyllum (River Bushwillow) – are all indigenous. The young saplings were planted in an area covering nearly 20 000 square metres of land.
Woolworths Trust EduPlant initiative has established itself as the leading schools food gardening and greening programme that promotes the growing of good food using permaculture techniques. Permaculture strives for agriculture that is ecologically sound and sustainable in the long term: this means that it should be non-polluting, economically and socially viable, and provide for its own needs. Woolworths Trust EduPlant is coordinated by Food and Trees for Africa.
“The proceeds from the purchase of the trees have helped finance seeds to grow more trees and plants for the Woolworths Trust EduPlant programme. The money has also helped fund a feeding scheme for learners in need at Thuthuka Primary School in Thembisa.” says Annah Kgatla, Chief Procurement Officer at Trees for Africa. Food and Trees for Africa (FTFA) is the leading national, public benefit, civil society, greening and food gardening organisation in South Africa. FTFA is proactively addressing climate change, food security, sustainable development.
ENDS
Editor’s notes
Woolworths Good business journey
Our Good business journey is a five year plan luanched in 2007, that is changing the way we do business. It incorporates a series of challenging targets and commitments, centred on four key priorities: accelerating transformation, driving social development, enhancing our environmental focus, and addressing climate change.
In line with Woolworths enhanced environmetnal focus, we are committed to supporting ‘greening projects’ as they contribute to offsetting our carbon footprint. Woolworths aims to reduce the business’ relative carbon footprint by 30% by 2012.
The Woolworths Trust EduPlant Programme
Through their participation in Woolworths Trust EduPlant, thousands of schools across the country have become champions of community development; promoting food security, improved nutrition and sustainability.
Schools that participate in Woolworths Trust EduPlant benefit from:
-Permaculture food gardens that provide nutritious food for school children.
-Healthy school environments where waste is managed, water is conserved and soil is enriched.
-The life skill of producing their own food in harmony with nature.
-A deep awareness of sustainable living and know how to care for the earth. A deep awareness of the impact of nutrition on health, especially with regard to HIV/Aids.
-An opportunity to participate in outreach projects – teaching other schools, parents and community members how to develop their own permaculture food gardens.

In line with the Good business journey, we are committed to supporting ‘greening projects’ as they contribute to offsetting our carbon footprint.